Suva, February 20 (AseanAll) — Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa on February 20, 2026 in Suva, Fiji signed a historic Partnership Agreement to deepen collaboration and promote regional cooperation and integration across the Pacific. The agreement sets out a comprehensive framework for the two organizations to align their resources and expertise in support of a resilient, sustainable, and prosperous Pacific region.
“The remote and geographically dispersed nations of the Pacific stand to benefit immensely from regional cooperation and integration,” said Mr. Kanda. “The strength of the Pacific lies in its unity. By standing together, we can achieve common objectives—from protecting shared ocean resources to building economic resilience—far more effectively than any country could alone. This agreement is our foundation to think bigger and move faster.”
“This partnership strengthens our collective efforts to deliver Pacific-led solutions that build resilience, expand opportunity, and mobilize climate and development finance in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific,” said Mr. Waqa.
Both ADB and the Pacific Islands Forum bring over 50 years of engagement with Pacific island countries to this partnership. Building on three decades of cooperation between the two organizations, the new agreement formalizes a commitment to work together on critical issues including economic competitiveness, community resilience and empowerment, disaster preparedness, and the blue economy.
The partnership aims to provide targeted resources to accelerate regional cooperation and capture the benefits of collective action. Under the agreement, ADB and the Pacific Islands Forum will collaborate on high-priority initiatives such as the Regional Programmatic Approach for Climate Action, the Pacific Fiscal Resilience Initiative, and a proposed multi-donor trust fund for disaster risk financing. These initiatives are designed to help Pacific nations tackle shared challenges by pooling resources and harmonizing policies.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.
